The 1985 NAIA Division I football season was the 30th season of college football sponsored by the NAIA, was the 16th season of play of the NAIA's top division for football.
The season was played from August to November 1985 and culminated in the 1985 NAIA Champion Bowl, played this year on December 21, 1985, at Estes Stadium in Conway, Arkansas, on the campus of the University of Central Arkansas, for the second straight year.
Central Arkansas and Hillsdale played to a tie, 10–10, in the Champion Bowl and both teams were named co-national champions. It was Central Arkansas' second NAIA title (and second straight shared title) and Hillsdale's first.
Conference realignment Conference changes The Columbia Football League began play this season, with the combined football membership of the former Evergreen (NAIA Division I) and Pacific Northwest (NAIA Division II) conferences. The new league had fourteen members from British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington.
Membership changes Team 1984 conference 1985 conference Central Washington Evergreen Columbia Eastern Oregon Evergreen Columbia Lewis & Clark Pacific Northwest Columbia Linfield Pacific Northwest Columbia Oregon Tech Evergreen Columbia Pacific (OR) Pacific Northwest Columbia Pacific Lutheran Pacific Northwest Columbia Puget Sound Evergreen Columbia Simon Fraser Evergreen Columbia Southern Oregon Evergreen Columbia Western Oregon Evergreen Columbia Western Washington Evergreen Columbia Whitworth Evergreen Columbia Willamette Pacific Northwest Columbia
Conference standings
Conference champions Conference Champion RecordArkansasCentral ArkansasHenderson State6–16–1Central StatesPittsburg State6–1NICMinnesota–Duluth6–0OklahomaEast Central StateSouthwestern Oklahoma State3–1RMACMesa7–0South AtlanticMars Hill6–1WVIACSalem (WV)6–1
Postseason
See also 1985 NAIA Division II football season 1985 NCAA Division I-A football season 1985 NCAA Division I-AA football season 1985 NCAA Division II football season 1985 NCAA Division III football season
References